PetMeds® is hosting a giveaway through November to celebrate Senior Pet Month and help pet parents adapt to their cat or dog’s changing needs. All pet parents are invited to enter the “Fur-ever Young” giveaway for a chance to win prizes for their cat or dog.

November is Senior Pet Month, dedicated to raising awareness of the perks of adopting a senior cat or dog as well as the importance of proper care and an active lifestyle to extend their happy, healthy years.

While every pet ages differently, a cat is generally considered a senior by the time they are ten years old. Dogs enter their senior years between five and ten years old, with smaller breeds aging more slowly than large dogs.

Over the past forty years, the average life expectancies of cats and dogs have nearly doubled. Pets are living longer due to higher standards in care and nutrition and advancements in veterinary science. It is not unusual for senior cats and dogs to live to celebrate their tenth, fifteenth, and even twentieth birthdays.

To keep middle-aged and senior pets in their best health for as long as possible, proper veterinary care is essential. Annual or twice-yearly wellness visits can catch illness early. Early intervention can be highly beneficial for common conditions seen in senior pets including kidney disease, diabetes, dental disease, and osteoarthritis.

Most cats and dogs will develop osteoarthritis in at least one joint in their lifetime. Pet parents can prevent or slow the progression by giving joint supplements at any age. For pets with osteoarthritis there are many effective pain management options including physical therapy, medications, holistic remedies, laser therapy, and acupuncture, making it possible for cats and dogs to stay active, healthy, and comfortable throughout their senior years.

While nobody likes to think about their pet getting older, the senior years are a truly special time. Cats and dogs become more settled down, more relaxed, and ready to enjoy an even deeper bond with their favorite humans.

PetMeds® is celebrating senior pets by giving away Special Senior Support Prizes Packs containing Vetoquinol Pill Wraps, NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic Powder, and HomeoPet Anxiety Relief every Friday in November. Dog prize packs will also include Zesty Paws Senior Advanced 11-in-1 Bites, and Cat prize packs will also include Soft VitaChews for Cats. All pet parents are invited to enter the “Fur-ever Young” giveaway by commenting below

The giveaway runs from November 2, 2022, through November 30, 2022. Everyone who enters from 12:01 AM Eastern Time (“ET”) November 2, 2022, to November 30, 2022, at 11:59 PM ET is eligible to win a cat or dog care pack. One cat and one dog winner will be chosen each week for a total of eight (8) winners.

This contest has ended but congrats to our Week 1 Winners Georg Suelzner in Florida and Marlisa Molina, our Week 2 Winners Sama Shuhaibar in Pennsylvania and Sarah Browning in Illinois, Week 3 Winners Patricia McNabb in Washington and Rebecca Bell in Louisiana, and Week 4 Joanna Frank in South Carolina and Joani Taylor in Hawaii. Look out for an email from us!

With Halloween around the corner, many families are looking forward to enjoying trick-or-treat candy and other seasonal sweets. To help pet parents can safely include cats and dogs in fall festivities, PetMeds® is giving away prize packs every week in October.

For pet parents who love Halloween, it can be a fun day to spend with pets. Friendly, sociable pets can join their families to walk the neighborhood trick-or-treating route or hang out by the door to help greet costumed characters. But with candy bowls and trick-or-treat stashes all around, pet parents should be vigilant to ensure that pets do not sneak a taste.

Sugary sweets can be tempting for dogs because they can taste sweetness. Cats do not have taste receptors for sweetness but may still seek out novel textures. While small amounts of sugar are not normally harmful to pets, over time it can lead to dental disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Pet parents should also be aware of foods that are safe for humans, but toxic to pets. Xylitol, an artificial sweetener used in many sugar-free gummies, chocolates, and lollipops, is toxic to cats and dogs even in small amounts. Chocolate, especially dark varieties, can also cause toxicity. Raisins are a lesser-known toxin that can be found in many candies and baked goods around the holidays.

Pet treats are safe for cats and dogs, but they should be given in moderation, even on special occasions, Limit treats to no more than 10% of your pet’s daily caloric intake to keep their diet in balance and prevent an upset stomach on Halloween night.

Pet parents are invited to enter the “Purr-fect Health and Wellness” Giveaway for a chance to win a prize pack full of healthy treats and wellness items to celebrate Halloween with their cat or dog, by leaving a comment below.

Every Friday in October, one cat and one dog winner will be randomly chosen for a total of eight winners. The cat prize pack will include a pack of Soft VitaChews for Cats, Temptations Jumbo Stuff Tasty Chicken treats, Pet MD Hydrocortisone Spray, and Super Pure Omega 3 Liquid. The dog prize pack will include Super VItachews for Dogs, Disney Table Scraps treats, Pet MD Hydrocortisone Spray, and Super Pure Omega 3 Liquid.

The giveaway runs from October 3, 2022, through October 31, 2022. Everyone who enters from 12:01 AM Eastern Time (“ET”) October 3, 2022, to October 31, 2022, at 11:59 PM ET is eligible to win.

Congrats to our Week 1 Winners Nancy DiSanto in Wisconsin and Ashley Raymond in Indiana, our Week 2 Winners Kristin Garaas Johnson in New York and Essra Mohawk in Tennessee, Week 3 winners Roberta Aguglia in New Jersey and Travis Engle in Georgia, and Week 4 Gregg Barber in Connecticut and Doug Tepper in Arizona. Look out for an email from us! This contest has ended, but make sure to check out our contest for November … and stay fur-ever young!

In observance of Animal Pain Awareness Month, PetMeds® is helping pet parents learn about recognizing and managing pain in pets and giving away 8 pain prevention prize packs through the month of September.

September is Animal Pain Awareness Month, first started by the American Chronic Pain Association in 2001 to help pet parents learn about pain awareness and management for cats and dogs.

Even the most caring and attentive pet parents can miss signs that their cat or dog is feeling unwell. Untreated pain can not only impede the animal’s quality of life, but also increase stress, prevent exercise, and even delay healing. Pet parents should be aware of different types of pain and the most commonly overlooked symptoms.

Acute pain describes short-term pain that’s brought on quickly, usually from a bone break, a sprain, a muscle injury, or an infection. It’s often easy to recognize when it manifests as obvious symptoms like limping or whining, but may appear as changes in behavior like growling, snapping, or avoiding affection.

Chronic pain is long-term, lasting at least three months, and it’s usually associated with conditions like arthritis, hip or elbow dysplasia, cancer, and dental disease. Symptoms of chronic pain may be more likely to go unnoticed as they can appear gradually.

Symptoms like slowing down, sleeping more, and refusing to eat are often misconstrued as normal signs of aging. Many times, pets act like their younger selves after starting chronic pain treatment.

Chronic and acute pain may be mild or severe. Depending on where it occurs in the body, it may be somatic, visceral, or neuropathic. Somatic pain affects the limbs and skin, for example, a cut or sprain. Visceral pain affects internal organs. Neuropathic pain from nerve or spinal cord injuries tends to cause tingling, burning, or shooting pain.

Pet parents who suspect their pet may be in pain should talk to their veterinarian about treatment options, which range from medication, supplements, physical therapy and surgeries to acupuncture, electromagnetic therapy, hydrotherapy and massage.

PetMeds® is honoring Animal Pain Awareness Month by giving away Pain Prevention Prize Packs which will include T-Relief Tablets, Super Joint Enhancer Liquid, Cosequin for Dogs or Cats, and our new Prana Pets Joint & Muscle Supplement for Pain and Mobility Issues. All dog and cat parents are invited to enter for a chance to win by leaving a comment below.

The giveaway runs from September 1, 2022, through September 30, 2022. Everyone who enters from 12:01 AM Eastern Time (“ET”) September 1, 2022, to September 30, 2022, at 11:59 PM ET is eligible to win.

Congrats to our Week 1 Winners Gail Hurt in Kentucky, and Heung Ng in Ohio, Week 2 Winners Allison Winser in Pennsylvania and Millie Penna in Pennsylvania, Week 3 Jim Hayes in Maryland and Kristian Cade in North Carolina, and Week 4 Kandy Thome in Pennsylvania and Jim Hayes in Maryland. Look out for an email from us! This contest has ended, but make sure to check out October’s giveaway!

Celebrated on August 8th, International Cat Day is a day to honor cats and raise awareness for responsible cat ownership. To celebrate, PetMeds® is giving away an International Cat Day Prize Package

International Cat Day, observed on August 8th, was first founded by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and now coordinated by charity International Cat Care.

The holiday is celebrated by shelters, humane societies, and other pet organizations with adoption events and fundraisers, as well as campaigns to raise awareness for responsible cat ownership.

Cat parents can celebrate their favorite feline by spending the day playing with their cat, giving them extra cuddles, or spoiling them with treats and toys.

It’s also a good time to take steps to ensure their health and happiness year-round by scheduling an annual wellness check-up, feeding a moisture-rich diet, and creating a cat-friendly home by providing enriching, vertical space in the form of shelves, cat trees, and window-facing perches.

International Cat Day coincidentally falls in the middle of the summer, which is peak kitten season in many parts of the world. Cats and kittens in shelters can be supported through donations, volunteering time, or by adopting a new four-legged family member.

Shelters are packed with kittens this time of year, so International Cat Day is the perfect time to plan a visit, fully grown and senior cats need homes too, and they’re a great match for families looking for a more independent, laid-back companion.

All cat parents are welcome to enter the “International Cat Day” Giveaway for a chance to win…

PetMeds® is celebrating responsible cat ownership by giving away International Cat Day prize packs to 4 lucky winners through the month of August. All cat parents are invited to enter for a chance to win by leaving a comment below.

The International Cat Day Giveaway runs from August 1, 2022, through August 31, 2022. Everyone who enters from 12:01 AM Eastern Time (“ET”) August 1, 2022, to August 31, 2022, at 11:59 PM ET is eligible to win. 1 winner will be notified every Friday in August, starting 8/5. There will be a total of 4 winners.

Congrats to our Week 1 Winner Doug Kilma in Ohio, our Week 2 Winner James Kone in Oregon, Week 3 Winner Janice Rogers in Florida, and Week 4 Susan Doughtie in Georgia. Look out for an email from us! This contest has ended but we invite you to participate in our next giveaway and “press paws” on pain!

Every dog has their day on DOGust First, the universal birthday for shelter dogs. To celebrate, PetMeds® is giving away a DOGust Birthday Prize Package.

According to the ASPCA, over three million dogs are taken in at animal shelters across the United States each year, many without records of their previous history, their past name, or even a birthday.

In recognition of adopted rescues and dogs currently awaiting adoption in shelters, dog lovers celebrate DOGust First on August 1st as a universal birthday for all rescue dogs. First coined by North Shore Animal League America (NSALA) in 2008, it’s also a holiday to raise awareness of dogs who are still in need.

Dog parents of rescues can celebrate by taking their dog on a special outing to their favorite park, serving up a favorite meal, or going on a shopping spree for treats and toys.

Rescue dogs in need of homes deserve to be honored too. Anyone can join in on the celebration by supporting a local shelter through volunteering, donating, or even adopting a new four-legged family member to give them the best birthday gift ever: a forever home.

There’s millions of dogs in shelters right now waiting to be adopted. Those who aren’t sure if they’re ready to adopt can volunteer to walk or foster a dog and might just meet their new best friend.

PetMeds® is celebrating shelter dogs by giving away DOGust Birthday prize packs to 4 lucky winners through the month of August. All dog parents are invited to enter for a chance to win by leaving a comment below.

The DOGust First Birthday Bash giveaway runs from August 1, 2022, through August 31, 2022. Everyone who enters from 12:01 AM Eastern Time (“ET”) August 1, 2022, to August 31, 2022, at 11:59 PM ET is eligible to win. 1 winner will be notified every Friday in August, starting 8/5. There will be a total of 4 winners

Congrats to our Week 1 Winner Michael Garcia in Georgia, our Week 2 Winner Pat Howell in Illinois, Week 3 Winner Jennifer Martin in New York, and Week 4 George Pruchniewski in Florida. Look out for an email from us! This contest has ended, but we invite you to participate in our next giveaway and “press paws” on pain!

In the summer heat, cats and dogs are at greater risk of dehydration. To help pet parents keep their four-legged family members quenched, PetMeds is giving away summer prize packs to 3 lucky winners.

With summer officially in full swing, many pet parents are spending more time outdoors with their pets. Just like people, pets need to drink more water in hot weather to stay cool. Dogs pant when they’re hot, and their body cools down as moisture evaporates from their tongue. Cats cope with the heat by grooming more often. These processes cause them to lose body fluids when they’re overheated even though they do not sweat.

During cooler months, cats and dogs need to drink between one-half and one ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. In the summer, they may need two or even three times more water to stay hydrated.

On hot days spent outdoors, pet parents should stop periodically to check for signs of dehydration, which include pale, sticky gums, a rapid heart rate, and loss of skin elasticity, which can be tested by gently tenting the skin at the nape of the neck. If the skin does not bounce back once released, the pet may be dehydrated.

Dehydration in pets can lead to digestive issues, urinary tract problems, and even heat stroke. It’s important to offer pets water before they show signs of dehydration to keep them healthy and comfortable in the summer.

Cats and dogs should have constant access to cool, fresh water. Their bowl should be washed and refilled daily. On road trips or during outdoor activities, they should be offered water every hour or two.

Dogs and cats don’t always drink enough water even if it’s available to them. They also need moisture in their diet, which pet parents can provide by soaking kibble in water or switching to canned food.

Pet parents are invited to enter the “Water You Up To This Summer” Giveaway for a chance to win a prize bundle with TropiClean Fresh Breath Water Additives and Snack Duo Collapsible Water Bowl – or the grand prize, a Pet Fountain by leaving a comment below

The “Water You Up To This Summer” Giveaway runs from July 1, 2022, through July 29, 2022. Everyone who enters from 12:01 AM Eastern Time (“ET”) July 1, 2022, to July 29, 2022, at 11:59 PM ET is eligible to win. One winner will be notified every other Friday in July (7/8 and 7/22). The grand prize winner will be notified Friday, July 29th.

Congrats to our 1st Winner Jeffrey Greene in Arizona, our 2nd Winner Ernie Johnson in New York, and our Grand Prize Winner Joyce Giandolfi in Florida Look out for an email from us! This contest has ended, but be sure to join us in celebrating DOGust and International Cat Day.